Coordinating center for collaborative marmoset research

PROJECT SUMMARY/ABSTRACT The common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) has emerged as a critically important and tractable non-human primate (NHP) model for neuroscience research accommodating genetic manipulation and directed breeding. Several barriers to the adoption of marmoset models by the neuroscience community exist, including a small census size in the United States (fewer than 2,500 animals available for research), poor communication about resource availability, a poor understanding of the strengths and limitations of marmosets in research, and a lack of a formal structure for coordinating the sharing of information and resources related to marmoset research. In this application, we propose to continue operation of the Marmoset Coordinating Center (MCC) a virtual center created to maintain a national census of research marmosets, characterize the genetics of marmoset colonies, and facilitate transfer of marmosets for research. As the foundation for the MCC, we built an informatics framework for coordinating marmoset research based on the LabKey data management system. This system contains basic statistics on the marmoset populations provided by participating laboratories, making pre- recorded, individual-level information more broadly available to the neuroscience community. Demographic and genetic information is generated, shared and discussed among participating centers, to coordinate marmoset colony management in line with Association of Zoos & Aquariums practice guidelines. Via the website, the MCC oversees submission, review, approval and tracking of requests to purchase marmosets generated by federally funded breeding programs. In this iteration of the MCC, we will continue to develop the center by expanding the genome data available on marmosets, and by enhancing the functionality of the MCC website. We will collect tissue from uncharacterized animals, whole genome sequence DNA extracted from these tissues, and integrate the new genomes with our existing genomic knowledge ebase. We will research new, easier ways to generate high-quality genome data from marmosets. The website will be expanded to include more summary statistics on marmoset genetics at both the individual and colony level, and to provide up-to-date information on the availability and location of newly generated marmoset resources developed by companion programs, such as cell lines and genome editing reagents. Together, the data and human resources of the MCC will provide an essential portal into marmoset neuroscience research through collaboration, service agreement, or animal transfer.